First vs second
PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN
PRE-GAME QUOTES
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach
We tried to use this day to watch a film and go through our strategy offensively and defensively, we have one more practice in the morning. Barcelona had an extra day [to prepare] due to the schedule. It's a hustle game. We need to give it all, each and everyone. As I said yesterday, we used 11 players [vs Zalgiris] and everyone contributed regardless the minutes on the floor, everybody brought something to the team. It's a similar game: Barcelona hustles, it is big. We have many absences, they have significant abcences too.
Mike James, CSKA guard:
Barcelona has a good coach, good and talented team. We are trying to close this [double-week] out, it's a big game for us especially being first in standings, to keep some consistency. We are ready to play.
“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS
It will also feature a coaching duel between Sarunas Jasikevicius and Dimitris Itoudis, who twice before worked together at Panathinaikos as a player and an assistant coach.
Barcelona swingman Cory Higgins played for CSKA for four years – his first four in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. He helped CSKA win two titles, in 2016 and 2019.
Barcelona point guard Thomas Heurtel and Tornike Shengelia were teammates at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Johannes Voigtmann and Adam Hanga of FC Barcelona were teammates at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz during the 2016-17 season.
Mike James was a teammate of Barcelona’s Adam Hanga at Baskonia during the 2015-16 season. They reached the 2016 Final Four together.
James and Barcelona point guard Thomas Heurtel were briefly teammates at Baskonia in December 2014.
Barcelona forward Adam Hanga and Shengelia were teammates at Baskonia for two seasons, from 2015 to 2017. Together they helped the team reach the 2016 Final Four.
Barcelona’s Victor Claver and Shengelia were teammates at Valencia Basket from 2008 to 2010. They won the 2010 EuroCup together.
Fenerbahce guard Leo Westerman played for CSKA during the 2017-18 season.
Westermann was a teammate of CSKA center Nikola Milutinov's at Partizan Belgrade for two seasons, from 2012 to 2014.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Ten different players have appeared in CSKA's starting lineups so far this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started every game.
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 13 straight and 38 of his last 39 games. He ranks fourth this season with 2.8 three-point shots made per game. Mike needs 2 more three-pointers to reach 300 for his career.
James has scored in double figures in 13 straight and 43 of his last 44 games. He leads the EuroLeague in scoring this season with 20.6 points per game.
James ranks seventh this season with 6.0 assists per game.
James has posted a PIR of at least 19 in 11 straight games. He ranks second this season in average PIR with 21.6 per game; Milutinov is seventh with 17.1 per game.
Nikola Milutinov leads the league this season with 8.8 rebounds per game and is the leader in offensive rebounding with 4.4 per game.
In Round 17, Nikola Milutinov smashed the EuroLeague single-game record with 16 offensive rebounds.
Milutinov ranks seventh all-time with 446 offensive rebounds. Jan Vesely of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is fifth with 454 and counting.
Will Clyburn has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight of his last nine games.
Darrun Hilliard has made at least 1 three-pointer in 13 of his last 14 games.
Hilliard has made 14 consecutive free throws.
Janis Strelnieks ranks 10th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.3%.
PAST MATCHUPS
Win-loss record: 20-16
Game of 2020-21 EuroLeague season
Barcelona – CSKA: 76-66 (-10)
SHORT DOSSIER
FC Barcelona, Spain
Founded: 1926
Colors: balaustine, violet, gold
Home court: Palau Blaugrana (8,250)
President: Josep Maria Bartomeu
Head coach: Sarunas Jasikevicius
Website: www.fcbarcelona.cat
Trophy case:
- 2-time Euroleague champion (2003, 2010);
- 2-time Saporta Cup winner (1985, 1986);
- 2-time Korac Cup winner (1987, 1999);
- 18-time Spanish champion (1959, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014);
- 25-time Copa Del Rey winner (1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019)
- 6-time Spanish Supercup winner (1988, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015)
